diff --git a/bot/chorus_bot/ping.py b/bot/chorus_bot/ping.py
index 3bf2151..1fe3221 100644
--- a/bot/chorus_bot/ping.py
+++ b/bot/chorus_bot/ping.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-from datetime import datetime, timezone
+from datetime import datetime
 import discord
 
 MODALITY_LABELS = {
@@ -24,15 +24,15 @@ def build_ping_embed(
     embed.add_field(name="modality", value=modality, inline=True)
     embed.add_field(name="sender_id", value=sender_id or "", inline=True)
     embed.add_field(name="captured_at", value=captured_at.isoformat(), inline=True)
-    embed.add_field(name="raw_content", value=raw_content or "(empty)", inline=False)
+    embed.add_field(name="raw_content", value=raw_content, inline=False)
     return embed
 
 
 def parse_ping_embed(embed: discord.Embed) -> dict:
     values = {field.name: field.value for field in embed.fields}
     return {
-        "modality": values.get("modality"),
+        "modality": values["modality"],
         "sender_id": values.get("sender_id") or None,
-        "raw_content": values.get("raw_content"),
+        "raw_content": values["raw_content"],
         "captured_at": datetime.fromisoformat(values["captured_at"]),
     }
diff --git a/bot/tests/test_ping.py b/bot/tests/test_ping.py
index 361a7ed..4094cde 100644
--- a/bot/tests/test_ping.py
+++ b/bot/tests/test_ping.py
@@ -31,3 +31,17 @@ def test_build_ping_embed_handles_missing_sender():
     )
     parsed = ping.parse_ping_embed(embed)
     assert parsed["sender_id"] is None
+
+
+def test_build_and_parse_empty_raw_content():
+    """Verify empty raw_content round-trips correctly without being converted to '(empty)'."""
+    captured_at = datetime(2026, 7, 13, 9, 0, 0, tzinfo=timezone.utc)
+    embed = ping.build_ping_embed(
+        modality="bh_email",
+        sender_id="test@example.com",
+        snippet="Empty message",
+        raw_content="",
+        captured_at=captured_at,
+    )
+    parsed = ping.parse_ping_embed(embed)
+    assert parsed["raw_content"] == "", "Empty raw_content should round-trip as empty string, not '(empty)'"